Utilizing Waste Streams Requires Collaboration

On September 23, 2025, an event was held in Perho for local entrepreneurs to present a survey on the utilization of wood and construction industry side streams. Centria UAS RDI coordinators Egidija Rainosalo and Hanna Tölli conducted a company search, which revealed that there are 12 wood or construction companies in the municipality of Perho. Three of these were included in an interview-based study mapping side and waste streams. The companies involved were the sawmill JET-Puu, prefabricated house manufacturer Jetta-Talo Oy, and ready-made sauna builder Ehta Group Oy. The survey was carried out in winter 2024, and the results were published in Henna-Mari Videnoja’s thesis “Circular Economy Value Chains in Forestry and Forest Industry.”

At the event, Rainosalo and Tölli reviewed the survey summary. According to it, JET-Puu utilizes all leftover materials from spruce sawing. Some of these materials are sold, generating revenue that covers employee wages. The situation becomes more complex with prefabricated houses and saunas. Waste streams are no longer entirely wood-based; some fractions include materials that must be transported for reprocessing or hazardous waste recycling. Among the companies, Jetta-Talo, as a major player, had better knowledge of its waste streams. Both companies face the challenge that side streams currently represent a cost item.

The positive aspect is that there is a strong willingness to change things. The most important step would be to get companies talking to each other and seeking joint solutions. Within about a 100-kilometer radius of Perho, there are nearly 200 companies in the sector. This shows that many others face the same questions.

"Small companies should look at their neighbor’s waste containers and consider whether they could be jointly transported for further processing or utilized in other ways than just burning," Rainosalo pointed out to the audience.

A commentary was given by municipal councilor Antti Hietaniemi, one of the founders of both Jet-Puu and Jetta-Talo. He emphasized how vital it has been for Jet-Puu to utilize all generated streams in ways other than burning for heat. Regarding other companies, he found it insightful that, even for logistics cost reasons, businesses should be more aware of what is happening at neighboring companies.

"Many fractions are transported as far as Southern Finland for further utilization. It would be very sensible to combine transports even within this 100-kilometer radius. The discussion must continue and be actively maintained," Hietaniemi concluded.

The link for Videnoja’s thesis: Videnoja_Henna-Mari.pdf;jsessionid=8C08433437393A9B6D75B63E875A2D62

The link for results of the mapping: https://net.centria.fi/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Value-chains-from-forest-to-wood-construction-industry.pdf

The mapping work and the event were carried out as part of the Interreg NPA-funded project Target Circular – Supporting Sustainable SMEs to Success.

Photo: Hanna Tölli